Page 119 of Out of Bounds

"I didn’t pay for the gift, I traded for it. I never use the free tickets they give me anyway," I finally said. "And it’s this Saturday, during the KYU game."

I’d scheduled it on purpose. I wouldn’t lose out on my time with Kassie and that meant picking an away-game when I didn’t get to see her regardless.

"The bus will be back at ten,” I continued. “And we have a movie night scheduled after. You can tell me all about it."

Her mouth fell open and she stared at the paper, shocked.

"Do you like it?" I pressed. I didn’t mean to ask that. It just slipped out. The nerves were getting to me with every silent second. “Kassie?”

"You got me a dinner with Henry Miller?" she whispered.

"Yeah. This Saturday." I couldn’t stop talking. "You’re about to go to Florida, you’re about to start your career, and you’re right. It’s time that—"

Kassie reached out and grabbed the fabric of my shirt, yanking me down to her. It caught me completely off guard. I didn’t have time to react before she wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in my chest. I stiffened in my seat.

I didn’t know what to do. I had no idea.

Seconds passed as I waited for her to let me go. We were surrounded after all and no one was taking pictures for some bullshit social media page. But she didn’t, and after a moment, I leaned down too, taking all the time in the world. I grazed her back, trying to decide how to do it.

Kassie made the decision. She hugged tighter.

Something washed away in me and I let my arms go where they wanted, right around her. She was soft and warm and overwhelming. The more she squeezed me, the more I could touch her.

People clapped me on the back after games and other football players crashed into me on the field, but touching Kassie was different. The way she moved against me, the slow way she breathed. The slow way we breathed together. It was the kind of rest I’d been missing out on. The kind of feeling you can’t help but sink into.

Someone at the table wolf whistled and the two of us broke apart. A blush painted across her cheeks and she ducked her head.

"Thank you," she murmured out of the side of her mouth.

My chest couldn’t have swelled up more if I tried.

She was happy. Kassie was happy, and it wasn’t something I was a bystander to.

Imade her happy.

"I’ll take a picture, squeeze in together," Zariah called.

Her phone snapped a picture before I was ready but Kassie shifted next to me and the two of us smiled at the camera together. She wrapped her arm around mine and my smile widened.

"Ryan!" Adam called from down the table. "Something for the collection!"

I snapped over so hard, my neck cracked. Was he fucking serious? In front ofKassie?I stared at him, hard. I always knew that impulsive nature of his would get him in trouble, I never thought it’d be me throwing the threats at him.

"Marrs Manwhore, we’re doing a full hour of burpees tomorrow," I growled.

"Oh, man."

46

Kassie

Voted Class Jailbait

Of all the games to have plans during, why did Ryan pick KYU?

I sat on the bench outside the restaurant, glued to my phone. We were neck and neck. It was the closest the score had been with any game during theentireseason. Every time someone had a lead, the other team inched up. And I was missing every second of it.

"Come on, take me off hold," I muttered, refreshing the score. "June, come on—"

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